My Reborn 18-Year-Old Revenge Scam? Bankrupting Bullies! - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

One week before the SATs, I moved out of the dorms and found a nearby motel, not telling anyone.
But Tyler tracked me down anyway.
"Why are you staying in a motel?"
"You're way too interested in my life," I said sarcastically.
Tyler paused and looked away. "I just think you're pathetic, that's all."
"Since you think I'm so pathetic, lend me another thousand bucks."
He grudgingly pulled out his wallet and grabbed a stack of bills. "Here."
I gripped the money tight.
We were even now, I thought.
That twenty bucks from my past life had made my eighteenth year a living hell.
Ten years, a hundred times interest—Tyler and I were even.
And I didn't hate him anymore.
I didn't even hate my dad anymore.
Walking out of the exam room, the blazing sun beat down on him and Vivian.
Vivian was hugging Maya, asking her questions patiently.
Looking at me standing in front of him, he opened his mouth, then finally spoke: "Come home."
I asked, "Where exactly is my home?"
His lips pressed together, showing a flash of irritation—probably annoyed by my continued rebellious attitude.
Yet I just smiled, then turned and walked away.
He'd never understand that from this moment on, I'd gotten the future I wanted, but inevitably, like in my past life, I'd lose everything from my past.
I found a summer job at a fast-food restaurant.
Tyler kept coming in to eat and always asked how I did on the exam, what college I wanted to attend.
I ignored him.
The day SATs results came out, Maya came to gloat.
"I'm going abroad to vacation," Maya smiled. "My grades qualified, so I'm going to New York to study dance."
"Jess, how'd you do?"
I said, "Guess."
Maya's face darkened, but she quickly recovered. "Even if you did well, what's the point? Can you earn enough tuition working for two months?"
"Don't count on your dad helping. You know what he said? He's waiting for you to come back and apologize to him, otherwise he won't give you a cent."
Me: "Oh really?"
Well, that was too bad.
"What are you so smug about?" Maya stood up. "I'm waiting for you to come crawling back to beg me and Mom."
Never.
That day would never come.
I'd gotten into my dream school and was going to my favorite city.
I didn't have money, sure, but I had tons of ways to scrape together first-year tuition.
Eighteen-year-old Jess might have been helpless.
But I wasn't.
Maya would never see that day.
Even the apology Dad wanted would never happen.
Because I was leaving soon.
The day I got my acceptance letter, I quit my rental and bought a train ticket.
While I was packing, Tyler showed up.
"You're LEAVING?!"
"Yeah."
"Why?" He looked frantic. "Why so sudden?"
"It's not sudden. I need to get there early to figure out tuition and living expenses. Probably need to find a job too."
Tyler didn't get it. "You're really never going home?"
Did he think this was all some game?
"Tyler," I said. "Thanks for everything, but I hope we never see each other again."
Tyler couldn't believe it as he shouted behind me, "WHY?"
"Jess, don't you have ANY conscience? I helped you so much, and you're not even a little grateful?"
I turned to look at him.
Tyler probably felt wronged—after all, he hadn't actually hurt me.
"But Tyler, I would've survived without you too."